ADVISING STUDENTS
OVERVIEW
For detailed information that can aid the advising process go to:
http://sites.google.com/site/dmadvising/home
There are no longer official focuses within the Digital Media program. However, students will still have the option to focus in the same areas as before; 2D animation, 3D Animation, Interactive Design, Motion Graphics and Digital Imaging. However, there are more cross-over and generalist options available now as well. They will do focus, now, by selecting from a menu of elective courses. This increases the importance of ongoing and deliberate advising. To see student works from the Various focuses go to:
http://www.kendallweblab.com/weblab2/work/2dworkgallery.php
We all have a roll to play in student advising; helping them to develop a career path for the immediate future and engaging in an ongoing dialog in terms of portfolio preparation, coursework, geographic location, job types, etc. This is how we can all participate:
TELL YOUR STORY
Each of us have had career paths that have many things in common and also many differences. Tell your story. Your day to day work experiences are also extremely informative to students that are trying to understand what it means to work in our industries. Share them please!
TALK ABOUT YOUR INDUSTRY
You will notice in the new course descriptions language similar to this:
"Recognize current animation genres, understand the related copyright issues, and discuss possible distribution channels for animated works."
That simply means... take the time to share everything you know about your industry. How is it structured? What are the current trends? Is it a freelance business? Are there full time jobs with benefits? Does it help to live in a certain place? Etc.
KNOW YOUR STUDENTS
Most of our courses are constructed with flexibility in the assignments. Ask your students what they are focusing in or what their major is. Then help them to customize their projects toward that.
RECOMMENDING ELECTIVES
It's important to understand a student's career goals when recommending open or program electives. We have 10 of them in our new program plan, so getting this right is critical. You can use this guide to help you with matching courses to student's career goals:
http://sites.google.com/site/dmadvising/program-electives
http://sites.google.com/site/dmadvising/studio-electives
Sometimes students will express a desire to take a course unrelated to their career goals for "Fun". You might remind them that a studio course at Kendall costs $1900 and that it is one less course that will be available for portfolio building.
Under no circumstances should a student ever feel strong-armed into enrolling into a course. Present the facts and allow them make their decision.
DIGITAL MEDIA MINORS
Students from other programs can minor in Digital Media. There is no set series of courses for this. It is simply 5 courses that we choose with them in a consultation. The selection of these courses need to be focused on clear career goals.
WATCH OUT FOR DIGITAL TOURISTS
Digital tourist sounds derogatory, but it is not meant to be. It simply means someone with very little computer skills. In our case it can mean anyone that does not have the fundamental skills to do the course work. For a variety of reasons, you will occasionally have students enrolled in your class that probably don't belong there. You need to ask every student if they have had previous digital coursework and what that was (perhaps a simple survey). If a student turns out to be a digital tourist, ask them to drop the course and enroll in one of these courses:
GD 112 GRAPHICS STUDIO I (intro to Graphic Design using Illustrator and InDesign)
DM 241 DIGITAL IMAGING I (intro to Digital Imaging using Illustrator and Photoshop)
ANY OTHER COURSE you feel will prepare them for the course you are teaching